CRUISING
COVER STORY: THE GREAT GEAR TEST
TAHITI AND BUST
After 12,000 testing ocean miles, the Blue Water Rally fleet tells James Jermain what works… and what doesn’t
COVER STORY: BLOCKADE BUSTERS
HOSTAGES TO MISFORTUNE
Militant French fisherman trap scores of British yachts in port. Dick Durham reports on the crisis and the RYA offers advice
COVER STORY: BEAT THE CREDIT CRUNCH
SEA CHANGE
Are you struggling to stay afloat this season? Maybe it’s time you found a new cruising ground. Kieran Flatt heads west
COCKLESHELL HEROES
Mark Fishwick meets the low-budget Corinthian legends of the Jester Azores Challenge aboard their 20-30ft ‘race’ boats
HOW TO LIVE THE DREAM
Excerpts from On The Nose, a rib-tickling take on selling up and sailing away, written by liveaboard yachtsman Bob Buxton
BLUE WATER LETTER
Rod Heikell encounters whales and a back-log of boats
A BLAZER GLORY
Enjoy the world’s biggest regatta with our Cowes Week guide

SAILING SKILLS
COVER STORY: CROSS THE CHANNEL
EXPERT ON BOARD
Essential advice on undertaking this rite of passage
SKIPPER’S TIPS
Rubbing out chafe, deciding which watch and shot mainsails
A QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
Engine noise rumbles through thick fog, how do you handle it?
HOLED IN HOLLAND
Searching for safety after a strange encounter in a Dutch canal
ANY QUESTIONS
Big sticks, bright lights and fragrant tips from the Heads Mistress
HOW TO FIT A TILLER PILOT
An illustrated step-by-step guide to hands-free helming

BOATS AND GEAR
COVER STORY: TWO NEW CRUISER RACERS
NEW BOAT TEST: PERFORMANCE-RELATED PLAY
With regatta season nearing full swing, we test two award-winning performance cruisers
COVER STORY: LITTLE LIFEJACKETS
WATER BABIES
Sally Coffey tests eight infant lifejackets
USED BOAT TEST: THE BEIGE BOMBSHELL
Dick Durham’s passage on the Island Packet 420
NEW BOATS
A taste of blue water with five ocean-capable cruisers
NEW GEAR
Packaged PCs, buoyancy jackets, a sub-aqua camera on test and a new DSC VHF radio with FM, too
WHEN GOOD CONNECTORS GO BAD
Is your anchor connector liable to jam and snap? Vyv Cox how to make sure you don’t lose your hook
A-Z OF USED BOATS: CALYPSO TO CATALINA
What’s overpriced? What’s undervalued? Find out here

REGULARS
EDITOR’S LOG
The view from the helm
OPENING SHOT
Seaview under sail
NEWS
Recession stalks the docks
READERS’ LETTERS
Perils of the not-so-deep
LIBBY PURVES
Credit crunch cruising
CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
Oddjob for Jonah
NIGEL CALDER’S TECH TALK
Of mice and men
AROUND THE COAST
Old Gaffers Rally for Sir Robin and all the latest on your dock
CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins